The Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly and representative of Atiba State Constituency, Hon. Gbenga Joseph Oyekola, has raised concerns over the growing menace of gang violence and hooliganism in secondary schools across the state.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, he moved a motion highlighting the urgent need to address the rising incidents of gang violence in schools, emphasizing the necessity of immediate intervention to safeguard students, teachers, and school administrators.
Hon. Oyekola noted that schools, which should be safe havens for learning and personal development, are increasingly becoming hotspots for violence, intimidation, and criminal activities.
He pointed out that physical assaults, bullying, extortion, vandalism, and even weapon-related incidents have become prevalent in many secondary schools, disrupting the academic environment and posing serious risks to students’ mental and physical well-being.
The lawmaker attributed the surge in gang-related activities to peer pressure, poverty, lack of parental supervision, exposure to violent media, and the influence of external criminal elements.
He warned that if urgent action is not taken, the situation could spiral out of control, leading to increased crime rates, school dropouts, and even loss of lives—with severe consequences for the state’s socio-economic development.
Hon. Gbenga Oyekola put forward the following recommendations:
- Urge the Executive Arm of Government, through the Ministry of Education and TESCOM, to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy to combat gang violence.
- Strengthen school security by ensuring perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras, and the deployment of trained security personnel in secondary schools.
- Establish counseling and mentorship programs to educate students on the dangers of violence and hooliganism.
- Organize sensitization campaigns for students, parents, and teachers on the importance of peaceful conflict resolution.
- Mandate students to sign a bond of good behavior as a prerequisite for admission into schools.
- Direct the Committees on Education (Basic and Secondary) and Security and Strategy to conduct an investigative tour of affected schools, engage stakeholders, and report back to the House.
- Encourage school authorities, Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs), and Old Students’ Associations to support security initiatives such as erecting perimeter fences, installing surveillance cameras, and providing street lighting in strategic locations.
- Strengthen the Rapid Response Squad to enable quick intervention in cases of violence.
- Foster community engagement by involving local leaders in addressing the issue.
- Develop a legislative framework to prescribe sanctions and penalties for offenders involved in gang violence.
Hon. Gbenga Oyekola emphasized that failure to address this issue contradicts the Child Rights Law and the Oyo State Education Policy, both of which prioritize the protection of children and the provision of a safe learning environment.
He urged all relevant stakeholders to take swift action, stressing that the safety and future of Oyo State’s students must not be compromised.
